"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit."

Category: Network It

Gathering knowledge is not a neutral activity. It creates responsibility both to self and those within reach. In the technological era NOW that reach is far and wide.

A problem that seems technical and complicated is only so NOW. Once having “knuckled down” and attacking a challenge one creates a formula for success or identifies a way to not approach the same challenge in future NOW moments.

It is often temping to think the problem is too complicated and decide the solution is hiding somewhere in the details. When one decides NOW is a time to think, do not neglect to be informed by any and all past experiences of both self and others.

Once one makes a choice, NOW is the time to commit and take action. In the end as long as a lesson has been learned to apply in future moments NOW, the ordeal is not a failure regardless of the outcome.

When facing a confusing or challenging choice be sure to learn. Not learning NOW removes the opportunity for a satisfactory solution to be realized in a great way.

Learning alone is only part of the journey. Start a business and start getting paychecks but still not learning? Well those checks will only reach such a number and stop growing or start failing until the learning continues.

Create successful ad campaigns online for business at a conversion rate to sales of 10-15%? Fantastic! What happens when copy pasting that campaign to others? Yeah the results get harder and harder to achieve until one understands what leads to the satisfactory conversion. Mastery occurs when 10-15% is just the starting point and one becomes the expert.

Sure a solution to making it work has been found but without understanding why how will the process ever improve? To find incredible success at anything one must not be afraid to do what is needed to become “the expert”. Becoming the expert is to the student as the expert is to a master.

The expert of the craft does not really mean mastering the “fine print” but grasping the complexities of the whole picture. Understanding why “it” works and accepting the reasoning for this the truths behind “its” success.

Get a mentor! Consulting an expert can bring tremendous value and in the end is it any different than trying to understand “the fine print” or find a “magic formula”? Even after consulting the experts, studying the past, learning the fine print one must still make a choice.

In a 925 situation one learns, does and gets paid. Being self-employed one is taught, does and then teaches. Go find a mentor to partner with in the pursuit of dreams NOW!

Ever stop to analyze why the “grass” looks better over there than here, then or NOW?

The proverbial grass appears greener when the task of one’s own lawn care is more daunting to look at than the neighbor’s yard. Something that needs to be addressed NOW is being ignored when looking to others.

Most people learn by their 20’s, easier is rarely better. Run from an issue and it will come right back until addressed.

The curious fact is when how few considering something new will be vicious in analyzing the details!

Any good salesman can present a product/ service or opportunity as “the bee’s knees”. Any person male or female can seduce a partner while few learn to woe them.

Why does each new partnership at first satisfy emotional desire, then turns out just as toxic as others? How was that partnership started? Bet the whole thing was based in charm and not creating value.

Yet there is more to why one still looks to the neighbors lawn!

In all things, how a partnership begins will be as tantamount to long term success as breathing is to life. Would one plant a garden of all corn when tomatoes are craved?!? No.

Is the moment NOW worth so little as to allow others to decide it? There is work in deciding how each moment will be spent instead of following every charming salesperson. Not doing the work brings a less than green lawn.

Most people fail to stop long enough to analyze the past, accept responsibility and create a plan for moving forward NOW.

1. What role will a partner play in one’s life?

2. What solutions do they bring to challenges NOW being faced?

3. What will life look like when unable to partner with exactly the ideal person the heart desires?

To woe another, become the best expert in how another may answer these questions. When the heart’s deepest desire has been determined and then broken down into smaller steps then simple tasks the likelihood of making the wrong choice is low.

To compare something proposed to what the heart dreams of is natural. Without first defining what the heart desires one can choose toxic more times than sweet.

For most the human heart seems to have a pattern of pursuing bigger, better and more. Some pursue drugs, alcohol and sexual partners, while others new projects, time at the gym with a vicious zeal. When the root cause for the heart’s desire has been satisfied everything changes NOW.

The heart changes from seeking bigger, better and more to a focus of maintenance, improvement and development. The shift is one from gluttony and self-aggrandizing behavior to caring and humble service.

These rules or truths can be applied to every area of life. Stop NOW long enough to be informed by the past in any area not 100% satisfied and become informed enough to determine why the grass is not greener on this side of the fence.

Farmers know what most people forget. Choose the right soil and fertilize appropriately when planting certain seed to reap the best results. 2 Corinthians 9:6 is a favorite verse to describe what one reaps NOW is what will be sown in the next NOW moment.

How though does one know if the seed they want to plant NOW will be accepted by the soil? How about we keep it simple? Firstly hook the audience, then having learned what is important to the audience, drop that salt.

A hook would be anything strong and captivating to grab the attention of an intended listener. Like grabbing the horse by the rains and tugging at that bit. Then salt their perspective with a statement, question or story. Asking questions is a fantastic and simple way to keep the audience engaged.

There are a few simple steps to complete, when able, prior to beginning the process of planting value needed in another. When there is time taking a moment NOW to follow these steps will over time increase one’s ability to use these skills without awkwardness in every NOW moment.

1. Describe the audience

2. As best able in knowing the audience list their needs, and desires as relevant to what is going to be shared.

3. Simply define the idea, product or service and the opportunity it represents to the audience

4. Define how or why what is shared will best benefit the audience. There are a lot of salt brands why would this one be best?

5. List any concerns, fears or excuses that may arise when sharing

6. Prioritize the concerns, fears, or any reasons the audience may have to object.

7. List a solution to overcome each concern, each fear, or excuse.

Following these steps not only enforces the value being shared but also allow the audience to hear. Matthew 25:40 says, “…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Always seek to honor the audience by understanding their wants and needs. Present ideas, products or services in such a way that not only motivate the audience toward purchase or action NOW but fostering a situation as shared in Matthew 25:21.

Offering an opportunity to the audience inspiring an action of growth doubling the gift given rather than hiding the gift until the master returns. NOW each moment gifted by God one is able to double the gift given rather than hiding away the gift presented.

Any fool can see value when presented, Matthew 25:24. It takes more than cool tricks and a colorful presentation to create life changing value that lasts beyond NOW.

Be a good steward NOW. The belongings and responsibilities NOW carried will not increase until good stewardship has been mastered. The fundamental basis of property and life management for the Christian belief is stated clearly in Psalm 24 saying everything in the world is God’s.

Colossians 3:23 admonishes the wisdom of doing all things as if to God. Would whining, making excuses and denying one’s role in a situation be acceptable when caring for property or people belonging to God? Would it be okay to chew out employees, take advantage of coworkers or coming home from a long day shed the burden felt on those in the home? The behavior of others is never justification for the choices one makes themselves.

Was God standing among the community NOW would there be a change in the effort given to any endeavors? If everything on the Earth is of God and belongs to Him how can one not do their best NOW to increase the value of the moment?

The past is intended for study that one may be informed NOW of how to behave. Easy as it is to be prideful of the effort invested and the results, Deuteronomy 8:17, what does the very next verse have to say? Deuteronomy 8:18 counsels, “Remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.” Also Proverbs 16:18 informs one that pride will precede a failure. This is God speaking in effort to remind His people that what is here on the Earth His not the people.

Called to be stewards of this Earth which exists only NOW; it is each person’s responsibility to bring value not just to the material things but the moment. As in Matthew 25 and Luke 19 God rewards those who use what is given to create more value. Matthew 25:20, given 5 bags of gold the servant used the gold to create 10.

NOW gifted with a moment how it is used will determine the value in the next moment. Accept the responsibility to bring value NOW how much greater will the subsequent moments be that God gifts one with?

Matthew 25:24 shares how the servant took 1 bag of gold and buried it. Should one allow fear of loss be the excuse keeping action from occurring there will be no reward. To not take action NOW is rewarded no differently than using the moment to tear others down. The servant making excuses out of fear may not have sought to destroy but feared failure more than God was feared and did not seek to bring increased value to the gift given.

Each moment NOW may not be a bag of gold but currency and gift intended to be invested and grown into more. What can be done in each moment NOW to bring more value to others improving on the gift of life given?

Walking, talking and problem solving skills are learned in the beginning of life then continually improved, by some. The temperament one is born with dictates how the world is seen. Then during school years the same topics are studied at about the same times as other classmates.

How many remember the sophomore year of High School or College and how small and unaware the freshmen students were? The freshmen just struggling with the difficulty of adjusting to class load and other class details when then was NOW.

That separation in development continues with greater and greater degree during life. Before it has been said, “birds of a feather flock together” and other things like it. Business owners say things like your bank account will be decided by the company kept.

In the pursuit to be more like one’s ideal self NOW than yet in life, building the right inner circle and shareholders is absolutely paramount. As the stork occasionally will look up from the water NOW to see a flamingo in the flock so one will encounter difficult situations with people.

When seeking to improve oneself NOW; the practice of seeking new skills and knowledge will at times create a sophomore feeling. In the moment NOW one may find ample frustration in times greatest art, dealing with people. All have a unique temperament and way of seeing the NOW moment. Once that graduation certificate has been earned most people think they have arrived and know all they need NOW. Those who seek more NOW often find it increasingly difficult to relate to the “freshmen”.

King Solomon shared such profound value when he shared the wisdom of guarding one’s heart “above all else”. The NOW moment is ruled by how well the heart is guarded and lead. Will the floundering, unaware behavior of another become a distraction from the desires of one’s heart leading to a freer, more passion filled life? Working so hard in each NOW moment sacrificing so much in discipline; remember to be flexible with these “freshmen”.

Galatians 5:13 says to be of service. Then Proverbs 4:23 advises to guard the heart as it will determine the course of life. Then Matthew 7:1-5 shares the wisdom that each person has their own life to live. Each person carries the responsibility to guard and lead their heart. With such a plethora of personality, temperament and informative past experiences it is best to take leadership from the example of a bull.

The bull stampeding along is like the momentum one builds in seeking the heart’s deepest passion. The greatest energy is expended in creating the momentum. What happens when a bull running down the street encounters shelves of priceless china? A bull when encountering obstacles in the path too large to jump over or quickly run around he maintains flexibility in focus, slows down to carefully navigate the temporary obstacle. Once clear of the shelving obstacle the bull will resume running.

The lives of those the NOW moment are shared with are just as valuable to all parties involved. Like the bull if one runs through the temporary obstacles NOW things will be broken. One must be accountable for their response-ability in each NOW moment. Cleaning up a mess will distract from goal accomplishment more than a temporary pause in momentum.

At this very moment there is a need for the unique opinion which can only be shared by one person with a specific temperament and set of past experiences. Guard the heart and do not neglect to listen to it in every NOW moment. As Philippians 4:8 says continually focused NOW on what is true, noble and right based on what most satisfies the heart’s yearning. Be bullheaded not in an obstinate and unthinking way but with awareness and a self-actualized heart of service!

Below I have painstakingly determined a perfect 10 step method to practice one’s commitment skills NOW. Before beginning be sure not to quit part way through. This is very serious and partial completion really yields no results at all. Lastly make sure and get 2-3 pieces of College ruled paper(cause that wide ruled stuff is for the kids) and a good pen. A pencil will not work as it is so easy to erase what is written. If the thoughts of one’s heart are really of value write with conviction and commitment using ink.

1. Write down some goals on a piece of paper. Can’t commit to a goal of its not first written down.

2. Crumple up paper and light on fire – this will show you what it’s like when your dreams go up in flames. NOW rewrite the goals. This is excellent in developing solid wrist strength and an opportunity to be sure the right goal is written

3. NOW with goals in hand again place them across the room and take a seat. I’m sure by NOW a break is well deserved.

Once situated comfortably in a chair tell the goals to come.

To summon the goal list is solid practice for one who struggles themselves to come-it.

4. Warning! This is for the truly daring and advanced NOW perspective reader! It’s Spring NOW and a great time for this exercise.

Place goal list outside. This helps to learn what it’s like to make goals separate from the hearts passion -also on a windy day chasing your goals can be great exercise

5. If still reading and have energy remaining please like this post

6. NOW carefully crumple the paper into a tight ball.

Putting the goals under pressure will simulate real life challenges. The paper may alter its appearance but the goals written on the paper remain the same.

7. NOW taking decided aim at the trash can throw the crumpled paper away.

-this is what happens when one fails to act on goals

8. Write goals again. -this will save one’s hands from the trash – plus imagine how well toned the hand muscles are getting. Bonus – it’s good practice writing goals over and over again

8. Find a hard chair. Preferably wooden and sit on both hands for 10 minutes. -if a person can commit to this they can do anything!

9. Writing 10 steps is a lot and formulating these numbered steps is difficult. I’m going to stop at 9. Seriously?!? Did anyone think I could commit to a whole list?

Who remembers the Impressive Clergyman from Princess Bride? Bringing such a quotable line in the story saying, “Mawwage. Mawwage is wat bwings us togevver today”. The clergyman rambled on about marriage much as this post will be able commitment. What would any of us be without commitment? If mothers had not committed 9 months to conception there would be no people.

What commitments have been made since then defining the life NOW seen? Has life until NOW been mediocre choices leading to a life less than satisfactory? Most people lack the commitment needed to make large decisions when the heart craves a direction in life. The most successful people are committed to the heart NOW and doing what needs to be done and unsuccessful people are committed to taking the easy route NOW.

All have heard the phrase, “actions speak louder than words.” Words are wonderful tools in sharing vision. Without vision there will be no goals. Without clarity to define the vision of one’s goals no amount of action will lead to goal accomplishment that matters. Once the end goal has been defined, clarity of focus gained action towards goal achievement begins.

Matthew 6:24 says in NIV, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” As in most aspects of life there is no halfway point. One cannot be both successful and unsuccessful. Those who put in the work will reap the benefits.

Each moment NOW is like the old Cherokee tale of two wolves. Each breath is an opportunity to build or destroy. Developing character, self-discipline and momentum towards goals begin NOW. Will actions NOW feed the successful wolf or the wolf of failed expectations? One’s actions will determine the wolf that gets fed.

With every breath life is happening NOW. The successful make the most of every moment. Choosing self-leadership in goal pursuits and committing to the choices made. “Going with the flow” is the motto of one who drifts through life. NOW is the moment to choose to be committed to self and doing what needs to be done or indulging in distraction.

No matter how achievable or extraordinary the heart’s deepest desires set the goals needed to not pursue but achieve the greatness the heart calls for. Commit to controlling self in each moment, the direction actions lead, and the speed at which desires are pursued. Like marriage let the actions of each moment NOW express commitment to the heart.